Video Camera Equipment
Here are the things we should have inside our camera bag:
- Camera
- Additional Lens
- Microphone
- Lens Cap
- Charged Batteries
- Charger
Anatomy of the Video Camera
Basic Functions and Setting up your Camera
- At the bottom, you can see the battery is inserted. If there is no battery yet, the battery goes in the part where it should click and then close it. If it doesn’t click, you put it the wrong way.
- At the bottom, you can see a thing which we could use a screwdriver or even a quarter to unlock it and we use this to mount to the gimbal.
- We always make sure that the back of the lens has to be really clean. To do so, we hold the button down, and twist the lens and take it off. To put it back, simply look for the white dot and line it up with the other white dot, and lightly twist until you can hear a click.
- Remember, this is the lens that should be on it at all times there’s no really reason to take this off unless you need to clean it or something for some reason.
- We always try to keep the cap on whenever were’nt using it that’s to protect the lens.
- At the top, here is what we called the UV protector really what this thing does is that it protects the lens from breaking so this goes on top. If you spin the UV protector, you can see the actual lenses behind it. And then you place back the lens hood on top of the UV protector, spin to the right and wait until you hear it snaps.
Steps to operate the camera.
- Turn it on.
- Always make sure that you are using the Video option.
- Remove the cap.
- Adjust the setting of the camera.
- Adjust the exposure, this will decide like how bright or how dark the video is so this is usually started from zero we keep it on zero unless you need to.
- Always use this setting as 1080P as HD so that’s the setting you have to make sure that it’s always on that setting, don’t change that the file format MP4.
- You don’t really need to change any of this the focus mode is continuous AF means it’s continuously auto focusing focus area is wide so it’s using everything to focus exposure setting right now is on 0(zero).
- The ISO, this is a really important number like the ISO is fine at 320
- Formatting the memory card, just go into the briefcase and go to the fifth option and format and then hit enter.
- Hit C1 button to take you to the whitebalancing menu. The white balancing is white balance what really it does is that it looks at what is the correct white so it tells the camera this is for example tell the camera this is white and then everything in the the colors in the video or the image will adjust to that as white that being white.
How to Clean Camera Lens
Steps to clean Camera lens
1. When cleaning the Camera lens you’ll be needing 3 items: air pump, lens cleaning cloth, lens cleaning spray.
2. Remove lens cap and proceed to use air pump to remove any residue that can scratch the lens.
3. Add lens cleaning spray to your lens cleaning cloth and clean the lens in a circular motion with the wet side of the cloth. Next, in the same circular motion clean the lens with the dry part of the lens cleaning cloth.
4. Remove the lens and repeat steps 2 – 3 in cleaning the back of lens. The sensor typically won’t need to be cleaned.
5. If you see the lens is not yet clean you can carefully remove the UV protector and use the air pump to remove any residue.
6. Finally, use the air pump to clean off any residue from the lens cap and be sure to , when not using the Camera, leave the lens cap on as it protects the lens from any damage.
Video Camera Memory Card
Memory Card info
1. The memory card is located on the right side of the camera.
2. When inserting and removing the memory card you’ll hear a click sound when it is in the right position.
3. If the memory card is not inserted correctly or if there’s no memory card in the Camera you’ll see on of the camera display a notification indicating “no card.”
Setting up Video Room Lighting
Steps to setting up Video Room Lighting
1. First, we keep the door closed as we want the only light coming in from the skylight.
2. In preparing to open the doors in the skylight, you’ll want to grab the two ropes off the hooks in the lateral part of the room. By grabbing the rope that’s on the outer part of the skylight door, pull carefully as to completely expose the room to the natural light.
3. Secure the skylight doors by setting both ropes on the hooks and rotating until you see the doors are secure and you have full natural lighting.
4. Finally, turn off all the light in the room so that the only lighting you see is the natural lighting coming from the skylight.
How to setup the Rug for Videos
Steps to setting up the Rug
1. Set up the darker side of the rug toward the room door. You can confirm which side is the darker side of the rug by confirming toward what side the threads are woven.When you slide your hand through the rug you’ll feel more resistance when going against the darker side.
2. Center the Rug by using the blue tapes on all sides of the room as reference. Be sure to line up the Rug with the tile on the floor as to keep the both parallel to each other.
3. Grab a broom and get the foundation of Rug straight and clean on all sides if needed.
4. Give a thorough look at the Rug and clear it of any creases by gently giving the ends of rug a kick.
White Balance for Video Camera
Steps needed for White Balancing
1. In order to correct the white balance you’ll want to go to any of the manual modes on the camera.
2. By clicking C1 button on the top portion of the camera you’ll be taken to the white balance menu. You can also get there by going into Menu, clicking camera, and heading to the 5th option.
3. You go down in the White Balance menu to find Set. You’ll want to use the Grey Card/White Balance Card to calibrate the proper white balance.
4. Place the Grey Card in the middle of the Rug under the skylight with the most exposed part to the natural light.
5. Click the enter/middle button on Set. Be sure to aim the circle on the display screen toward the middle of the Grey Card. Click the enter/middle button once again to calibrate the White Balance.
6. Be sure to return to Video mode before continuing any further.
Videography Procedure
Steps to properly start Hand-Held/Gimble Video
1. Setup the room.
2. Setup the Rug.
3. Setup Camera and Gimble.
4. Format Camera after approval from Rose on previous Videos
5. Calibrate White Balance.
6. Start Shooting.
7. One Complete check for Media quality
8. Once completed pack Rug and puck back. Move on to the next Rug.
Anatomy of Gimble and How to Balance
- Z – axis and it’s lock / unlock button
- X – axis and it’s lock / unlock button
- Y – axis and it’s lock / unlock button
- Mode button : used to change modes ( reference Ronin app )
- Joystick
- Power button
- Record Button
- Grey levers : used to loosen and tighten axis when mounting Camera
- Grey button : provides access so the Camera can be mounted
- Tripod base
- Lock Trigger
How to Shoot Videos with Gimble
Steps for shooting videos with gimble
1. Mount Camera and Calibrate as so stabilize all 3 axis: X, Y, and Z
2. Balance Test w/ DJI Ronin app
3. Choose between 3 modes based on particular shot: reference Ronin app for the difference between all 3 modes
4. Use Joystick to make adjustments while recording
5. Properly use Lock trigger based on particular shot
6. You’re ready to start recording videos!
Expected Video Content
Expected Shots/Videos
– Complete Rug
- Pan up and Down
- Pan left to right
- Pan from side of Rug
– Border
- Hover over side to side
- Bottom to top
- In and out from the center
- A video of your choice
- Hover up and down at an angle
- In and out
- Angled Hover close-up
- Close up angled shot of knots